The former landlord of the New Inn pub in Laxey has applied for permission (21/00976/C) to live in it as a residential home.

Over 150 years old, the building closed its doors as a pub in 2012.

It is situated on New Road, opposite the Queen’s Hotel pub.

On its first floor it has three bedrooms, a kitchen and a bathroom.

The proposals are to remodel the ground floor by removing the bar and turn the associated lounge area into a kitchen and dining area.

The pub’s toilets will also be removed to expose the building’s original fireplace, which will host a wood burner.

Many of the island’s former pubs lay in a disused state.

Former Ramsey MHK and current candidate Dr Alex Allinson previously praised the new Liquor Licensing and Public Entertainment Bill as it stopped the practice of placing pubs under covenants which prevent their new owners from applying for a new licence once they are sold.

He pointed to the Britannia, the Central, the Stanley Hotel and the Saddle Hotel, all of which are currently disused, and which he hoped could now be regenerated.

Other former pubs whose regeneration has been impeded due to planning wrangles include the former Waterfall in Glen Maye, and the Liverpool Arms in Baldrine.

In June the Waterfall was granted a Building Preservation Notice which prevented its demolition in order to make way for a housing development.